On February 24, 2026, an article by science journalist Maria Berk titled "Ukrainians – a strong nation – we do not give up": four years later scientists remain resilient despite difficulties" was published in the Chemistry World journal, issued by the Royal Society of Chemistry.
The article discusses Ukrainian scientists, particularly chemists, who for four years since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine have continued working, demonstrating extraordinary resilience and adaptability, overcoming emotional and physical hardships of living in wartime conditions. Despite frequent power outages, subzero temperatures, damaged infrastructure, and reductions in scientific teams, research continues.
The challenges and achievements were shared by Vitaliy Palchykov, director of the Research Institute of Chemistry and Geology at the Dnipro National University named after Oles Honchar; Anastasia Sachko, head of the Chemistry Department at Chernivtsi National University named after Yuriy Fedkovych; Yuriy Khalavka, vice-rector for research at the same university; Hryhoriy Dmytriv, dean of the Chemistry Faculty at Lviv National University named after Ivan Franko; and Yevheniya Prekrasna, a research fellow at the National Antarctic Scientific Center of Ukraine.
Valentyn Chebanov, first deputy general director of the Scientific and Technological Complex "Institute of Monocrystals" of the NAS of Ukraine and director of the Institute of Functional Materials Chemistry of the Complex, academician of the NAS of Ukraine, spoke about how scientists live, work, and achieve world-class scientific results in frontline Kharkiv, particularly at the Scientific and Technological Complex "Institute of Monocrystals" of the NAS of Ukraine.
He noted that Kharkiv is shelled daily, but the Institute has installed powerful diesel generators, and all scientific instruments, servers, and computers are connected to uninterruptible power supplies. The institution has its own well of clean water and strategic importance, so power outages occur less frequently. Despite difficult conditions, work does not stop. Since 2022, nearly 30 young scientists have joined the team, new equipment has been installed – an NMR spectrometer, powder X-ray diffractometer, liquid mass spectrometer, spectrofluorimeter – and a modern laboratory for microbiological and molecular genetic research has been created. Scientists of the Complex publish research results in leading scientific journals.
Academician Valentyn Chebanov emphasized the need to make maximum efforts to develop science and education today and in the future, as without this post-war recovery of Ukraine will be impossible. He stressed that the NTC team looks to the future with optimism, forms long-term plans, and consistently implements them. At the same time, alongside international support, internal state initiatives to strengthen the scientific field remain extremely important, as they build confidence in its further development. He also noted that scientific research and educational activities are carried out under extremely difficult conditions, sometimes at the limits of capabilities and endurance, but Ukrainian scientists continue to work and remain resilient.
The full version of the article can be found at the link.
According to information from NTC "Institute of Monocrystals" NAS of Ukraine